Improve Your English – 268 [Archives:2005/828/Education]
I. What to Say
Situations and expressions (76):
Job advertisement (V)
The language of advertisement constitutes a kind of discourse that is governed, controlled, and transmitted by the persuaders. In the case of advertisements the service is the activator of the discourse not because of what he/she says about what he/she is but what the reader perceives him/her to be what he/she is.
– Want to be a part of Revolution in the field of infrastructure constructions in a progressive, growth oriented, and professionally managed enterprise?
– To your high flying ambitions, we add confidence, identity and status. (Air Hostess Academy)
– 'I'm ignited by complexity. I envision the next generation. I architect excellence.' At )), experience the challenge of creating innovative products.
– Give wings to your career.
– Before you join, please be warned that the job is back-breaking. After all, the pats come every 15 minutes.
– File, smile and go. (Income Tax Returns)
– Life is our life's work. (A pharmaceutical company)
– Life – it is the underlying purpose of everything we do at )) . Our core values: customer focus, performance, team work, integrity, leadership, respect for people, innovation, community, quality.
– Creating spaces where the young and the young at heart could meet. And be themselves. Can you think of a work environment that's more fun? You are a high-energy individual with a passion for excellence and strong people management, training and coaching skills. You are self-motivated, open to challenges and a solution provider with a high level of commitment. You are well-groomed, sincere and self-disciplined, with good communication skills and flair for customer services. Specific job responsibilities will include: ensuring profitability and operation standards, cash and inventory management, optimum utilization of resources and achieving targets.
II. How to Say it Correctly
Correct errors, if any, in the following sentences
1. He has been living here for the death of his mother.
2. My father brought much goods for us from Dubai.
3. The students are giving their examination from next week.
4. Many passer-bys stopped at the restaurant for refreshments.
5. You should have good relationship with your brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws.
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
1. Scarcely had we gone out when it began to rain heavily.
2. We reached Taiz at 8 P.M. ('reach' is not followed by 'at')
3. Telephone was invented by Graham Bell, an American scientist.
4. The gentry of the city were present at the meeting.
5. I have collected all the information about this case.
III. Increase Your Word Power
(A) How to express it in one word
1. Inability to read.
2. Looking very keenly at something.
3. Taking life easily.
4. To listen secretly to other people's conversation.
5. The flow of the sea away from the shore.
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
1. Person, animal or plant much below the usual size: dwarf (n)
2. To become gradually fewer or smaller: dwindle (vi)
3. The science that deals with matter in movement: dynamics (n)
4. Machine for changing steam-power, water power, etc. into electrical energy: dynamo (n)
5. Succession of rulers belonging to one family: dynasty (n)
(B) Words commonly confused
Bring out differences in meaning of the following pairs of words
1. ail, ale
2. literal,literary
3. everything, every thing
4. hear, listen
5. last, latest
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
1. madding (adj) (derived from the verb 'mad'. It means to irritate or annoy): Lovers prefer to go away from the madding crowd to a lonely place.
maddening (adj) (causing much pain or worry): The noise was maddening and he couldn't sleep.
2. gage (n) (something given as security or a guarantee): He offered his wife's ornaments as a gage for the loan.
gauge (n) (standard measure): Extent of rainfall is measured by a rain-gauge in the meteorological office.
gaze (n) (long steady look): He looked at the scene with a bewildered gaze.
(vi) (look long and steadily at): What are you gazing at?
gauze (n) (thin, transparent, net-like material of cotton for a wound): The doctor filled the deep wound with gauze.
3. exhausting (adj ) (producing exhaustion or a state of being tired out ): Climbing up the mountain was an exhausting experience.
exhaustive (adj) (thorough; complete): He has made exhaustive preparations for the forthcoming examination.
3. dependant (n) (a person who depends on someone for his maintenance or support): You must take proper care of your dependants.
dependent (adj) (depending on or upon): Your success in life is dependent on your sincerity of purpose and hard work.
4. epidemic ( adj) (a sudden outbreak of a disease): Malaria has broken out in an epidemic form in the area.
endemic ( adj) (disease that is prevalent or often recurring in a country or area): Dengue fever is an endemic disease in Delhi.
( C ) Phrases and idioms
Use the following phrases in sentences
1. sweat like a pig
2. be up in arms
3. be on the up and up
4. an angel of mercy
5. walk on air
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
1. the more the merrier (the more people there are the better): I'm happy to see such a large audience – the more the merrier.
2. dead to the world (very deeply asleep): After a long journey he was dead to the world and did not hear knocks on his door.
3. turn upside down (to cause confusion, when looking thoroughly for something): I have turned the place upside down and I can't find my missing ring.
4. cross swords with (some one) (to quarrel with someone or to have a disagreement with some one): The two brothers crossed swords with each other over a petty matter.
5. laugh one's head off ( to laugh loudly or heartily): Ali's friends laughed their heads off when he fell off his bike.
IV. Grammar and Composition
(A) Grammar
Complete each of these sentences so that it means the same as the sentence before it.
1. I haven't had a letter from my wife for three weeks. It's
2. The builders haven't done any work on the house for over a week. The last
3. It's more than six months since I went to the dentist. I
4. The last time I saw her was in January. I
5. It's ages since we went out for a meal together. We
6. She hasn't phoned me for over a week now. It's
7. I saw her such a long time ago I can hardly remember what she looks like. It's
8. I haven't been to England since 1990. The
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
1. Marsupials are animals whose young are carried in a pouch.
2. There are a number of mammals which live in the sea.
3. An ornithologist is a person who studies birds.
4. Amphibians, who are cold-blooded animals, can live on land or in the water.
5. David Attenborough is a naturalist whose films have been seen all over the world.
6. Spiders feed on smaller creatures which they catch in their webs.
7. There are some scientists who spend their entire lives studying one kind of animal.
8. There are a number of birds which are not capable of flying.
9. Mammals are animals whose babies are born fully formed rather than as eggs.
10. Crocodiles and lizards are related to the dinosaurs, who lived millions of years ago.
Composition
Expand the idea contained in the maxim
93. It's never too late to mend
The previous week's topic
92. Might is right
Someone who has physical strength tends to savagely ignore others legitimate rights .More often than not,he forces them to yield to his often ignoble designs. He easily subjugates the weaker ones under the threat of his sheer muscle power, forcing them to obey his dictates. This is nothing but the law of the jungle where the predator victimizes the prey. The one in possession of superior physical prowess easily prevails over the weaker one. None dare oppose his move. The maxim holds good not only for individuals, but for nations as well. In the chemistry of international relations it is often observed that the so-called super-powers assert their big-brotherly domination over the developing and under- developed countries with utter disregard to international ethics. When might holds its sway, virtues such as good sense, rationality naturally take a back seat. In the naked and nasty confrontation with the superior strength,sterling human values become a helpless and hapless casualty and yield place to the bestial show of strength.
V. Pearls from the Holy Quran
“To Allah doth belong the
dominion of the heavens and
the earth, and all that is therein,
and it is He who hath power
over all things.”
S5:A120
V. Food for Thought
“Life shrinks or expands in
proportion to one's courage.”
)Anais Nin
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